Wegmans Food Markets is recalling a massive amount of fresh ground beef products sold in its 71 stores during October because of possible E. coli contamination.

Customers can return the meat, which would have use-by or freeze-by dates from Oct. 10 through Oct. 29, to any Wegmans store for a full refund.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the recall, according to Wegmans and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A Wegmans spokeswoman said today she could not estimate how many pounds of the recalled meat Wegmans sold or how much meat customers have already returned.

"This particular recall does affect a large number of the fresh ground beef products we sell in our stores," said Jeanne Colleluori, the spokeswoman. "It didn't hit every product, but it was a majority of our products."

The meat was supplied to Wegmans by Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. On its Web site, Cargill said it has voluntarily recalled approximately 1 million pounds of ground beef produced at its Wyalusing, Pa., facility between Oct. 8 and Oct. 11, and distributed to retailers nationwide.

Colleluori said irradiated ground beef products sold at Wegmans are not being recalled.

Consumers who ate the meat and are experiencing symptoms -- including diarrhea, fever and severe abdominal pain -- should contact their physician, Wegmans advised. The onset of symptoms is generally within three to eight days of consumption. Persons of all ages are potentially susceptible to E. coli infection, but children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk.

Colleluori said customers who cook their meat to 160 degrees remove any possible danger in the meat.

"Our concern is this product could be in peoples' freezers," Colleluori said.

She said customers who did not retain the original packaging of their ground beef products, and cannot find a receipt, should go to a Wegmans store customer service desk to work out a resolution.

Click on the "extended entry'' link below to see the full list of recalled products.

Wegmans identified the recalled fresh ground beef as:

80%, 90% and 95% lean fresh ground beef, all package sizes, including product sold from the service meat case.

80% and 90% lean fresh ground beef patties in the 4-patty pack only.

All ground beef, pork and veal blends, including Century Farm brand.

85% and 91% Food You Feel Good About fresh ground beef sold in the service meat case.

Ready-to-cook items made with fresh ground beef, both packaged and in the service meat case. These include ready-to-cook burgers (bacon and cheddar, blue cheese, seasoned, roasted pepper and feta); meatloaf (regular and bacon cheddar); meatballs and stuffed peppers.